Filling tube for inflatable bodies



June 10, 1930. sf SAUL 1,762,893

FILLING TUBE FOR INFLATABLE BODIES Filed Oct. 3, 192a uIIiIIIIIIIIII/I/IIl/I/ Patented June 10, 1%39" SIEGFIRIED SAUL, 01?

UNIT

AACHEN, GERMANY FILLING TUBEIIOR INFLATABLE BonIIis Application filed October's, 1828, Serial No.

This invention relates to filling devices for inflatable bladders, the tube being inserted into an inner shell or bag contained within the bladder.

The known devices of this kind have the disadvantage that the insertion of the filling tube into the inner-bag, which is either cylindrical or conical in shape, can only be accomplished with great dilficulty as the tube when pushed into the inner bag generally doubles up.\ This doubling up makes the operation both complicated and tedious and the life of the tube of short duration as the constant bending and doubling up is a source of excessive wear. here is-also the d1sadvantage in the known devices that the filling tube is sometimes pushed too deep into the inner bag so that it can be pulled out again only with great difliculty. By my invention these disadvantages are avoided.

In my invention the inner hollow shell, into which the filling tube is inserted after the bladder has been inflated, has the shape of a bulgy bag to the bottom of which the filling tube is securely attached. This bulgy bag may have the'shape of a heart, a pear, a ball or other object, and has the tendency to retain its shape permanently so as to hold the'tubein the position received when in-' serted. I

When the filling tube is withdrawn for refilling the bladder, the inner bag is distorted and an increased tension is set up in it so that when the tube is released after the refilling the bag returns to its normal shape I and draws the tube back into it. Because oi the natural shape ofthe inner bag it is impossible for the tubeto 'shp lnside too.

deeply, as the distorted bag expands only to its original length whenthe tube is released and holds the tube at acorresponding depth.

It is advantageous to'have the tube of such a length that its outerrim is in the same plane as, or in a slightly lower plane than, the outer shellof the bladder, when the tube is inserted and. the inner bag is freertrom tension. In this way the shape of the bladder is maintained best.

In the accompanying drawing is shown,

310,124., and in. Germany. October a1, 1s 27 .f 5

by way of example, a practical application of.

my invention. 7 3

Fig. 1- is a cross sectionalviewof a part of a football bladder andthe'inner bag in distorted position I with the filling tube withdrawn. f I

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of a part of a football bladder and the inner bag in normal position with the filling tube in inserted position.

The bladder 1' has a rim"? at its opening which is turned inwardly. Inner bag- 3 is attached to bladder 1 by rubber rings 4 and 5 in any suitable manner. Inner bag'3 in Fig. 2 bulges out sideways considerably and assumes the shape of a-"heart. The lower end of the filling tube 2 is securely pasted to the turned-in portion 8 of the inner bag 3 forming opening 9. The length of the filling tube is such that in inserted position (Fig. 2) its outer rim 10 is slightly below the opening in bladder 1.- The opening of the tube 2 is closed in the usual manner by means of astopper (S, of light metahwood, or rubber, having an overhangingrim 11.

Whenthe bladder is to be filled, the filling tube 2 is pulled out from its normalposition 5 (Fig. 2), by grasping the rim of thestoppeif', to a position corresponding to that of'Fig; 1,

whereby inner. bag 3' becomes jdistorted.

7 Then the tube is held firmly while the stopper 6 is removed," bladder 1 is filled with] air 7 through tube 2, and the stopper is replaced.

ternal or external longitudinal ribs to in crease the tension within the wall of the bag-i whenthe tube 2 is pulled out.

Having thus described my invention, what I I claim is: r r

In a device of the kind described, an elastic bladder having an aperture, an elastic bag Within said bladder having a bulging shape which it tends to retain said inner bag having an aperture and being attached to said bladder so that said apertures coincide, a filling tube normally Within said bag, said bag having a second aperture at which said filling tube is attached to it, said bag being distorted When said filling tube is Withdrawn therefrom and being capable of drawing said filling tube back into it by assuming its normal shape When said filling tube is released.

The foregoing specification signed at Cologne, Germany, this 22nd day of September, 1928.

' SIEGFRIED SAUL. 

